Hitting Our Groove

This week I came to the realization that only now, after 7 months of living in this city, have we finally really “hit our stride”. By this I mean a combination of settling in, finding a routine, and branching out.

For examples, we can start with our own apartment. It wasn’t until recently that I actually felt our place was becoming a livable reflection of its inhabitants, and not just a hodge-podge scattering of free and borrowed junk (see previous post on freeganism). All of a sudden our rooms have character, function, and (in my case, a very recent development) furniture.

A similar timeline shows up at work. It takes time to figure out the most efficient subway routes, the best spots for lunch and coffee, and to accept the reality that you can’t actually afford to have those things every day. It also takes time to get comfortable with your co-workers, to get to the point where you can get together for drinks after work and commiserate about your monthly reports.

Outside of work, it takes time to make friends, to figure out the places you like to go to, the places you want to go to, and the places you never want to go to again. It’s a great feeling to be able to say you “know a place” to get great falafel downtown (“Taim” on 222 Waverly Pl), or that you “know a guy” who gives solid haircuts for 10 bucks on the west side (“Barber Shop” 349 West 44th Street btw 8th & 9th Aves).

When you get to that spot where you’ve really found your groove in the city and you’re firing on all cylinders, it’s really a beautiful thing. But, as I’ve learned, it takes time to get there. So if you’re feeling a little clunky and out of place, fear not! Eventually you’ll hit your stride too.

- Varun